So, looking at:
i) post #3 (Szostak's abiogenesis theory, requiring long chain organic compounds like stearic or oleic acids) … and;
ii) post #11, the actual confirmed discovery of extra-terrestrial Glycine, (an organic compound and an amino acid, probably found in the coma of comet Wild 3);
… might we have what one could call one of the closest approaches so far of discovering something which might have a snowball's chance in a hot place, of evolving into something which could be called exo-life ?
There is a little inference in my above question .. and thus its legitimacy might be debatable, but my purpose in raising this, is to try and gain visibility of the 'best case' for abiogenesis that I can come up with. It would seem that going much further than this, would probably rely on heavier doses of inference .. and all its associated shortcomings.
Its quite an interesting perspective, though.
I also find it interesting that perhaps by co-incidence, this aligns with the organic molecule and C12/C13 isotope detection technologies, being built aboard the Mars MSL/Curiosity rover, due for launch shortly.
So, given that there's quite a pile of 'reasonably' based biological theory and objective, peer reviewed evidence behind the scenario implied, I wonder what the outcome might be if MSL/Curiosity discovered long chain organic molecules ?
Well, I guess I'm back onto speculation here again, so to bring 'er back on track', but remaining in the same 'groove', the question left for me is:
"How much significance does the presence of these 'models' add to the credibility of a hypothetical discovery of long chain organic molecules (LCOMs) in a 'habitable zone' (HZ), should such a discovery occur ... and why?
For example: Would a discovery of exo-LCOMs in an HZ, mean anything without theories like Szostack's, and evidence such as Stardust's coma sample ? If these do carry some significance, and add enough 'weight' to the situation, perhaps significant enough to justify say, a manned mission to Mars, then does a 'non-discovery' of an LCOM in an HZ carry the same weight ? And if so, what could possibly be the consequences of a non-discovery (or multiple non-discoveries) ?
In consideration of 'weight' aspects mentioned above, are our expectations really objective?
Cheers